Franco-Belgian multi-utility Suez has reached an agreement with the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) to cooperate in research and development in the nuclear energy sector.

The agreement specifically addresses research and studies on 4th-generation nuclear reactors, improvement of reactor performance and security, and waste management and decommissioning.

Suez already owns and operates two nuclear power stations sites in Belgium (Doel and Tihange), which include seven reactors and in France, the company also has capacity of 1,100 MW at the Tricastin and Chooz nuclear power plants.

Gerard Mestrallet, chairman and chief executive officer of Suez, and Alain

Bugat, chairman of the CEA signed the five-year agreement, which will be renewable for three-year periods.

Meanwhile French technology company Areva has selected three subsidiaries of Suez Energy Services – AXIMA, ENDEL and INEO – to participate in the construction works for its new uranium enrichment plant, Georges Besse II located in Tricastin in the Drome. The contracts are worth some €110 million.


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